Kris Michaels Books in Order (Updated April 16, 2026)

Kris Michaels is best read as a connected world, not as a pile of separate unrelated series. Her official site explicitly gives a suggested reading order across multiple series, and that matters because Kings of the Guardian, Guardian Security Shadow World, Guardian Defenders, Hollister, and the newer Guardian Security Dynasty all sit in a broader Guardian-linked reading experience.

At the same time, not everything needs to be read in one giant marathon. Some readers will want the original entry point. Others will want the newest active line. Others will want the smaller small-town or crossover shelves first.

The shortest useful answer

1. If you want the best overall starting point, begin with Jacob. That is where Kris Michaels’ own recommended reading order starts, and it opens the long Guardian-connected experience.
2. If you want the newest active flagship series, start with Legacy’s Call in Guardian Security Dynasty. That is the current major ongoing line, with ten listed books and several 2026 releases.
3. If you want a smaller, easier entry lane, start with Andrew in Hollister. That series is shorter, cleaner, and easier to binge without committing to the full Guardian world immediately.

The best reading route for most readers

This is the cleanest path if you want the broader Kris Michaels experience without getting lost.

1. Jacob (2017): The official reading order starts here, making it the clearest first step into the Guardian world.
2. Joseph (2015): Read second in the author’s suggested order, even though its publication year is earlier than Jacob.
3. A Backwater Blessing (2015): A Kings of the Guardian novella placed early in the official order, so it works best here rather than much later.
4. Adam (2016): Continues the Guardian foundation in the author’s recommended sequence.
5. Jason (2018): Best read after Adam to keep the intended flow intact.
6. Jared (2018): Continues the Kings line in order.
7. Jasmine (2018): Keeps the core family/world progression moving.
8. Chief (2017): Another Kings of the Guardian entry that belongs in the official cross-series order here.
9. Jewell (2017): Best read after Chief in the same sequence.
10. Jade (2017): Continues the run before the reading order branches outward.
11. Anubis (2018): This is the point where the official order moves into Guardian Security Shadow World.
12. Justin (2018): Returns to the Kings line before the later crossovers deepen.
13. Montana Guardian (2018): A novella placed midstream by the official reading order rather than treated as an optional afterthought.
14. Asp (2018): Continues Shadow World in the recommended sequence.
15. Drake (2018): Keeps the Kings arc aligned with the expanding Guardian universe.
16. Christmas with the Kings (2021): Best read where the author places it, not simply by release date.
17. Dixon (2019): Continues the Kings line before later crossover entries.
18. Lycos (2019): Advances the Shadow World lane.
19. Gabriel (2019): Opens Guardian Defenders, which becomes an important later branch.
20. Passages (2019): Returns to Kings at the right point in the official sequence.
21. Thanatos (2020): Continues Shadow World.
22. Maliki (2020): Moves Guardian Defenders forward.
23. Tempest (2020): Keeps Shadow World in sync with the rest of the universe.
24. Promises (2020): The next Kings entry in the official order.
25. John (2021): Continues Guardian Defenders.
26. Smoke (2021): Returns to Shadow World.
27. Jeremiah (2021): Advances Guardian Defenders again.
28. Reaper (2021): Continues Shadow World.
29. Hot SEAL, Silent Knight (2021): Placed here by the official order as a side branch rather than read with the earlier Hot SEAL books alone.
30. The Siege Part 1 (2022): A late Kings entry that should not be read early just because it belongs to that original series.
31. The Siege Part 2 (2022): Direct follow-up to Part 1.
32. Andrew (2022): Opens Hollister, the next major lane in the official order.
33. Phoenix (2022): Returns to Shadow World.
34. Frank (2022): Continues Guardian Defenders.
35. Zeke (2022): The second Hollister book.
36. Valkyrie (2022): Shadow World continues.
37. Flack (2023): Another Shadow World entry.
38. Sage (2023): Continues Guardian Defenders.
39. Declan (2023): Hollister book three.
40. Bear (2023): Another Guardian Defenders installment.
41. Ice (2023): Shadow World continues, and the author notes that all other books can otherwise be read in any order beyond this structured list.

The Guardian-connected series in order

Kings of the Guardian

This is the backbone series and still the best place to begin if you want the full universe from the ground floor.

1. Jacob (2017): The official starting point for Kris Michaels’ recommended reading order, even though it is not the earliest publication year in the series.
2. Joseph (2015): Series book two, best read after Jacob because that is how the author frames the larger reading path.
3. Adam (2016): Continues the Kings line and deepens the world around Guardian-linked families and operations.
4. Jason (2018): Best read fourth in the core sequence.
5. Jared (2018): Keeps the Kings family arc moving in order.
6. Jasmine (2018): Another central family installment that belongs in the main line.
7. Chief (2017): A later-positioned Kings book in the recommended sequence, despite its earlier publication year.
8. Jewell (2017): Continues the Kings order after Chief.
9. Jade (2017): Best read ninth in the series progression.
10. Justin (2018): The tenth Kings entry.
11. Christmas with the Kings (2021): A holiday-side entry, but still part of the official Kings sequence on the author site.
12. Drake (2018): Continues the main line after Justin in current series listings.
13. Dixon (2019): Keeps the Kings sequence moving toward its later crossover-heavy entries.
14. A Backwater Blessing (2015): A novella tied to the Kings world, placed early in the official cross-series order rather than left for the end.
15. Montana Guardian (2018): Another Kings novella best handled as supporting material inside the broader reading path.
16. Passages (2019): A later Kings world entry that belongs after the earlier core books.
17. Promises (2020): Continues the line into the 2020 stage of the universe.
18. The Siege Part 1 (2022): A major late-series installment that should be saved until the surrounding books are in place.
19. The Siege Part 2 (2022): Direct continuation and best read immediately after Part 1.

Guardian Security Shadow World

This is one of the biggest connected side lanes and fits best after you already know the Guardian world.

1. Anubis (2018): Opens the Shadow World branch and is the right entry point to that darker side of the universe.
2. Asp (2018): Continues the branch in publication and official-reading order.
3. Lycos (2019): Best read third to keep the Shadow World continuity clear.
4. Thanatos (2020): The fourth Shadow World book.
5. Tempest (2020): Continues the sequence in order.
6. Smoke (2021): Another core Shadow World installment.
7. Reaper (2021): Best read seventh in the run.
8. Phoenix (2022): Continues the line into the next phase.
9. Valkyrie (2022): Keeps the sequence intact.
10. Flack (2023): The tenth book in the current series listing.
11. Ice (2023): Continues the branch as the eleventh entry.
12. Malice (2024): Moves the series into its later phase.
13. Harbinger (2024): Best read after Malice.
14. Centurion (2024): The fourteenth listed Shadow World book.
15. Maximus (2024): The current listed end point for the Shadow World series.

Guardian Defenders

This is a cleaner action-romance branch and one of the easier subseries to binge after Kings.

1. Gabriel (2019): Opens Guardian Defenders and introduces a distinct protector-focused branch within the larger Guardian-linked world.
2. Maliki (2020): Continues the series and is best read second.
3. John (2021): Keeps the Defender arc moving in order.
4. Jeremiah (2021): Best read fourth.
5. Frank (2022): Continues the line into the 2022 books.
6. Creed (2022): The sixth Guardian Defenders novel.
7. Sage (2023): Another later-series entry best saved for after the earlier books.
8. Bear (2023): Continues the sequence in order.
9. Billy (2024): The ninth listed Defender title.
10. Elliot (2024): The current listed end point for Guardian Defenders.

Guardian Security Dynasty

This is the newest major flagship line and the one most tied to current releases.

1. Legacy’s Call (2025): Opens the Dynasty series and is the correct place to start this modern Guardian Security branch.
2. Legacy’s Destiny (2025): Continues the series in order.
3. Throne of Secrets (2025): Best read third.
4. Echoes and Oaths (2025): The fourth book in the line.
5. Heir of Honor (2025): Continues the run into its later 2025 phase.
6. Heir of Shadows (2026): The sixth Dynasty book and one of the recent releases.
7. Veil of Vengeance (2026): Continues the series in 2026.
8. Heir of Courage (2026): Another recent Dynasty release.
9. Heart of Shadows (2026): The ninth listed Dynasty book.
10. Code of Silence (2026): The tenth listed book and the current end point for the series.

The easier side lanes

Hollister

If you want a smaller commitment, this is one of the best Kris Michaels entry routes.

1. Andrew (2022): Opens Hollister and gives you a cleaner small-town branch with less universe-management required.
2. Zeke (2022): Best read second to keep the town and relationship progression intact.
3. Declan (2023): The third Hollister book.
4. Ken (2023): Continues the sequence in order.
5. Barry (2024): The fifth and current listed Hollister book.

Hope City

This is another substantial connected series, but it is usually easier as a side lane after the main Guardian books.

1. Brock (2019): Opens Hope City and establishes the city-based romantic-suspense setting.
2. Sean (2019): Continues the series in order.
3. Carter (2020): Best read third.
4. Brody (2020): Continues the city/team structure already in place.
5. Kyle (2020): The fifth Hope City book.
6. Ryker (2020): Best read sixth.
7. Rory (2021): Continues the sequence.
8. Killian (2021): The eighth Hope City novel.
9. Torin (2022): Keeps the line intact.
10. Blayze (2022): The tenth listed Hope City book and current end point.

The Long Road Home

This is a very long shared-town line and is not the best first stop unless you specifically want the Hollister-connected small-town branch.

1. My Heart’s Home (2021): Opens the series and establishes the long-form homecoming theme.
2. Home to Stay (2021): Continues the town/family thread in order.
3. Finding Home (2021): Best read third.
4. Home Again (2021): Keeps the sequence moving.
5. Home Front (2022): The fifth listed book in the series.
6. Searching for Home (2022): Continues the line in order.
7. Home Port (2022): The seventh entry.
8. Home Base (2022): Best read eighth.
9. Home Fires (2022): Continues the sequence.
10. Defending Home (2022): The tenth book in the line.
11. A Home for Love (2023): A co-authored series entry that still belongs in the numbered run.
12. Thinking of Home (2023): Continues the series.
13. Too Close to Home (2023): Best read thirteenth.
14. Home Coming (2023): Continues the long run.
15. Home at Last (2024): The fifteenth book.
16. Finally Home (2024): Another later Hollister-centered entry.
17. Time for Home (2024): Continues the sequence.
18. Home Team Advantage (2024): Best read after Time for Home.
19. Home Town (2024): Another later-series installment.
20. Dreaming of Home (2024): Continues the line.
21. Home Body (2024): The twenty-first listed book.
22. Home Changes (2025): One of the newest entries in the series.
23. Home for Justice (2025): Continues the run.
24. The Way Back Home (2025): The twenty-fourth listed book.
25. Home of the Brave (2025): The current listed end point for the series.

Shared-world and contributed books

Hot SEAL / SEALs in Paradise

These are best treated as side reads, not as the backbone of a Kris Michaels reading plan.

1. Hot SEAL, Single Malt (2018): A contributed/shared-world military romance and the first Kris Michaels Hot SEAL title.
2. Hot SEAL, Savannah Nights (2019): Continues her Hot SEAL contributions.
3. Hot SEAL, Silent Knight (2021): The third Hot SEAL title and the one specifically placed in her official cross-series reading order.

Standalone

A Heart’s Desire (2018): The only standalone currently listed on Kris Michaels’ official books page, making it a clean one-book sample outside the larger connected world.

Do you need a chronological order?

Not a strict author-wide one beyond the version the author already provides.

For Kris Michaels, the most useful answer is this: follow her official recommended reading order if you want the full connected experience. If that feels too big, read one series at a time in publication order, starting with Kings of the Guardian, Hollister, or Guardian Security Dynasty depending on the kind of commitment you want.

Best place to start

Here are the three strongest starting choices.

1. Jacob (2017): Best if you want the true ground-floor entry into the Guardian world.
2. Andrew (2022): Best if you want a smaller, easier branch first.
3. Legacy’s Call (2025): Best if you want the newest active flagship line instead of starting from the beginning.

Latest release status

As of April 16, 2026, the newest major Kris Michaels releases I could confirm are in Guardian Security Dynasty, including Heir of Shadows, Veil of Vengeance, Heir of Courage, Heart of Shadows, and Code of Silence, all listed for 2026 on Fantastic Fiction and on the author’s books page. That makes Code of Silence (2026) the latest listed Kris Michaels title I could verify at the moment.

FAQ

What is the first Kris Michaels book to read?

Jacob is the best first book if you want to follow Kris Michaels’ own recommended reading path.

Do you need to read Kris Michaels in order?

Not every series has to be read as part of one giant marathon, but the Guardian-linked books are clearly designed to work best in a guided sequence.

What is the newest Kris Michaels book?

The latest listed title I could verify is Code of Silence (2026) in Guardian Security Dynasty.

Which Kris Michaels series is easiest to start with?

Hollister is the easiest low-commitment entry, while Kings of the Guardian is the best full-universe starting point.

Final recommendation

If you want the real Kris Michaels experience, start with Jacob and use the author’s official reading order as your map. If you want something easier first, read Andrew and the rest of Hollister. If you want to stay current, start with Legacy’s Call and read straight through Guardian Security Dynasty.